Nebraska achieved a remarkable 80-74 overtime victory over No. 18 Illinois, with Brice Williams scoring eight crucial points during the extra period, bringing his total to 27. This win marked the end of a frustrating six-game losing streak for the Cornhuskers.
The Huskers (13-8, 3-7 Big Ten) maintained the lead throughout the match, triumphing over a ranked opponent for the third time this season, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since the 2013-14 season.
For Illinois (14-7, 6-5), this loss marked their first defeat against Nebraska in ten encounters and their first setback in four visits to Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Off the bench, Connor Essegian contributed 14 points, while Juwan Gary added 13 points to Nebraska’s effort.
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Leading the Illini, Kasparas Jakucionis scored 18 points, while Will Riley hit four 3-pointers for a total of 16 points, and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 15 points.
In overtime, Williams showcased his skills by making three consecutive shots and hitting two free throws, giving the Huskers an eight-point lead. He broke a 72-all tie with a well-placed shot from the wing, followed by a strong inside basket and a smooth baseline jumper.
Takeaways
For Illinois, the absence of Tomislav Ivisic, the 7-foot-1 center and second-leading scorer, was felt as he missed his third consecutive game due to mononucleosis. The Illini have struggled recently, losing four of their last six games.
On the other hand, Nebraska displayed a return to form as a tough, defense-first team, limiting Illinois to just 28% shooting in the first half and 35.6% overall.
Key moment
A pivotal moment occurred when Gibbs-Lawhorn sank a 3-pointer with 47.2 seconds left in regulation, tying the game for Illinois for the first time since the opening tip-off. He entered the game with a 29% shooting average from beyond the arc.
Key stat
The Huskers matched their season low with only six turnovers while capitalizing on Illinois’ 17 turnovers to score 17 points.
Up next
Looking ahead, Illinois will host Ohio State on Sunday, while Nebraska will travel to face No. 16 Oregon on the same day.
